This is interesting. As a reviewer and blogger for many major publishing houses, I can't tell you how many "traditionally" published books that were not very good but people bought because they were traditionally published and backed by a publishing house. I've found editing issues and plot errors with many as well. As an editor, this is crazy considering the resources a publishing house has at their fingertips compared to indie authors. So when I hear how readers look at Indie books, and base their purchase on the amount of reviews they have... this blows my mind. Just shows how the stigma attached to poorly written Indie books vs. traditionally published books is still very prevalent with potential readers.
Thank you so much for this video and sharing your ARC signup form. I find your content very valuable, and one day (hopefully soon), when I finish getting my first book launched and can read for pleasure again, I plan to pick up your book series.
I just finished reading how your book sells itself and grow your author platform and it was immensely helpful!! Excited to get started on this journey :)
I really appreciate your valuable content. I really wish that on this video you would have gone through all the steps to set up this form, as I am having difficulty duplicating what you have created.
Sooo useful Bethany! Thank you so much for opening up your "behind the scenes"! I am launching my ebook soon "The Law Enforcement's Guide to Navigating Difficult Conversations With Youth In The Digital Age". I am looking forward to learning more from you and your processes.
Thank you so much for this clear step by step video. I’ve been searching for good info on ARCs and yours is the best. I am self-publishing my first book and trying to do it right. Thanks!
Hey Bethany! First time author here! Thank you soooo much for sharing your wealth of knowledge. I have a question for you as I set up my first self-published book.... in one of your videos, you advised to set up a Paperback or hardback copy on Ingramspark and an ebook on KDP. In this video you advised launching the hardcopy early on KDP. Does this mean you were only using KDP to publish this particular book, or are they (Ingramspark and KDP) still working in tandem?
Excellent video. You have a broadcaster's voice and if your writing is like your voice, it would be enchanting. For that, I will look at your books to see if I can read them to enjoy them. Really, this ARC thing I never paid much attention to too, but since your video will check into it. Thanks.
thank you so much for this info. I've written literary fiction in English and none of my friends and family in Greece read in English well enough to read this novel and review it. I was wondering if you can tell me, were do I find people to review my book when I am an unkown?
First, congrats!! Second, YOU ARE ONE OF THE KINDEST PEOPLE I KNOW AAHH. Just watching your vids brightens my day! Thanks so much for the helpful vids!
Thank you so much for this informative video. I want to ask if Amazon won't block the reviews by ARC team as they have not bought the book but got for free from the Author?
After watching this video it was very informative. I never use Goodreads, perhaps I am a bad reader, but I prefer everything together, like one-stop-shop and review. Used to frequent book stores webpages a lot like Borders, when it was around. Thankfully I have gotten into Amazon/Kindle so easier to read than physical books, for me, and leave reviews.
Great video, Bethany. I have a question about timing, though. It sounds as though you only send out the ARCs a week or two before publication. Do you think that gives people enough time to read it? Might it not be better to send them out a few months early?
I know this was a while ago, but I thought I’d reply for other people that might have the same question. You can definitely send ARCs out earlier. I like to send mine out about a month before the release date to give my readers a little extra time. The problem with sending them out earlier than that is that you can’t leave a review on a book (on Amazon) that hasn’t released yet, so if a reviewer reads your book that early, they may lose track of time or forget to leave a review entirely, which kind of defeats the purpose. They can leave reviews on other platforms (GoodReads, BookBub, etc.) before release, but reviewers are far less likely to leave reviews on other sites, and reviews on Amazon itself can help boost your rank and visibility, whereas reviews from other sites/platforms won’t. Hope this helps!
But how can anyone leave a review on BookBub when the book hasn't been released. Only when a book is released does it show in the book bub catalogue righr?
HI, Bethany,thank you for sharing your experience, love your smiles! I am launching my debut novel. quick questions of merchandising:where do you produce your mugs, t-shirts and accessories. which host would you recommend to set a store?
Hi Bethany, I am planning to use this method when I release my book, but I am confused about how readers are able to post a review without having purchased it. When you get reviews using ARCs, are they listed on Amazon as a verified purchase?
Hi Bethany, Congrats and thank you for your useful videos. Is it possible to make an ARC for children's picture books? or for a wordless picture book? Make a pdf format of them is ok?
Hey Bethany! Thank you for posting this, I’m learning a lot while I’m going through planning marketing for my book. Quick question: Why would you not accept every ARC reader in order to boost reviews?
@@BethanyAtazadeh That’s a good point, I agree! Thank you for the feedback! I just figured that the more reviews would push platforms like Amazon to recommend the book to potential customers more. But now that you mention it, the one asking to be a ARC reader is a customer.
Thank you! I think that's because it's personal preference. I like to do closer to release because it makes it more likely the reviewers will be hyped up and read/review right away (versus set it aside for when the release is closer and maybe forget).
Great video! I have a question that hopefully you can answer. Is there a way to give arc copies to people through Amazon so that it’ll show up that they received the product for free? Non verified reviews will most likely get taken down quick, so is there anyway to getting arc copies verified somehow?
I don't, but I think it would be a really short video, because my advice is to just ask! Whether in a newsletter or on social media, if you have readers following you, just put out occasional friendly reminders to review.
Dear Bethany, could you please advise when you upload books to the goodreads do you put full version of book? And I don't understand the purpose of goodreads you put there ebooks for free? Thanks!
Dear Bethany, thank you for your video! Very helpful. I have a question though... you send ARC's to people via Kindle Library, I get it. But, when they leave a review after all, on Amazon, do those reviews show up as 'Verified Purchase'. If not, is it really valuable to have those?
Yes it's just as valuable as any other review. It just won't say "verified purchase" but it's still a valid opinion that other readers will take into account.
Hi Bethany! You are simply awesome Thanks so much for sharing your valuable videos which are really helping me as I start my new career as a children's book author. When able, could you please send me the link or your sample ARC sign-up of how to create the ARC for paperback books and mail actual copies to participants? Thank you so much. Sandra
Hi Bethany, I have already published three ebooks on amazon without previously getting ARC. What should I do to get reviews since they are already published?
Mellyora Ashley introduced her first 4 books without ARC's and reviews seem hard to get. To post a review on amazon, customers must spend at least $50.00 using a valid credit or debit card. Prime subscriptions and promotional discounts don't qualify towards the $50.00 minimum. Need to try using advanced ARC form for the next book.
Preparing for my first time publishing. My research has gotten me a bit wary of ARCs. According to what I have read elsewhere, any solicitation of reviews (even non-paid and honest ones) can get you blocked. How can I avoid this? What are the actual rules?
Sadly I did arcs for my second children’s picture book and I totally forgot who I gave them to. No one did the reviews anyway. Plus Amazon took down all the reviews for my first book that were not from certified sales.
Oh no! I should've mentioned tracking everyone so you can contact them after - the nice thing about using the google form is that all that info can be transferred to an excel spreadsheet so it's super easy to track that way if you want to try it in the future!
@@BethanyAtazadeh well I didn’t do mine that way, I just asked some people at church and no one has said a word to me and I am too embarrassed to go around asking people if I gave them a arc copy. I did that once before and the looks I got like “ no but why didn’t you ask me” type looks. I had to beg and plead the first set to even do the reviews and one person kept giving excuses, then the reviews got taken off Amazon anyway so I do t see the point. May I can ask discord and create a Google form for myself. I can ask on IG too.
This is interesting. As a reviewer and blogger for many major publishing houses, I can't tell you how many "traditionally" published books that were not very good but people bought because they were traditionally published and backed by a publishing house. I've found editing issues and plot errors with many as well. As an editor, this is crazy considering the resources a publishing house has at their fingertips compared to indie authors. So when I hear how readers look at Indie books, and base their purchase on the amount of reviews they have... this blows my mind. Just shows how the stigma attached to poorly written Indie books vs. traditionally published books is still very prevalent with potential readers.
As someone who is about to release their debut novel - your videos have been so helpful. Especially this one. Thank you.
I’m so happy to hear that, thank you!
I just sent my ARCs out today. Wow. A little nervous and excited all at the same time.
Thanks, Bethany, Having published without doing any of this, I'm stumbling through this process now. Your video is much appreciated!
Thank you so much! So glad you liked it!
Thank you so much for this video and sharing your ARC signup form. I find your content very valuable, and one day (hopefully soon), when I finish getting my first book launched and can read for pleasure again, I plan to pick up your book series.
Thank you so much, I hope you enjoy them! :D
I just finished reading how your book sells itself and grow your author platform and it was immensely helpful!! Excited to get started on this journey :)
So USEFUL! I spied Mandi's taxes video on that screen--just watched that one too! lol
I really appreciate your valuable content. I really wish that on this video you would have gone through all the steps to set up this form, as I am having difficulty duplicating what you have created.
Sooo useful Bethany! Thank you so much for opening up your "behind the scenes"! I am launching my ebook soon "The Law Enforcement's Guide to Navigating Difficult Conversations With Youth In The Digital Age". I am looking forward to learning more from you and your processes.
Thanks for the tips in your videos always, So lucky to have found your channel. Keep it up.
Thank you so much for this clear step by step video. I’ve been searching for good info on ARCs and yours is the best. I am self-publishing my first book and trying to do it right. Thanks!
Glad it was helpful!
Hey Bethany! First time author here! Thank you soooo much for sharing your wealth of knowledge. I have a question for you as I set up my first self-published book.... in one of your videos, you advised to set up a Paperback or hardback copy on Ingramspark and an ebook on KDP. In this video you advised launching the hardcopy early on KDP. Does this mean you were only using KDP to publish this particular book, or are they (Ingramspark and KDP) still working in tandem?
Thanks Bethany, this is great advice! I will try it with my next book launch.
Thank you: this is the advice I was looking for yesterday.
Excellent video. You have a broadcaster's voice and if your writing is like your voice, it would be enchanting. For that, I will look at your books to see if I can read them to enjoy them. Really, this ARC thing I never paid much attention to too, but since your video will check into it. Thanks.
Thanks, this has the level of detail I was looking for.
thank you so much for this info. I've written literary fiction in English and none of my friends and family in Greece read in English well enough to read this novel and review it. I was wondering if you can tell me, were do I find people to review my book when I am an unkown?
YAY thank you so much Bethany! My book's coming out soon and I wanted to know how to do this!! Luv you and your channel!
Yay! Thank you! So glad it was helpful!
This is such a great video. It's helped my anxiety substantially Thank you so much 💗
You're Awesome! I'm so so so very grateful for your online help! Plan on getting right to this!
Great video. I'm not seeing the gear icon to add an image at the top. Has this option moved somewhere else?
First, congrats!! Second, YOU ARE ONE OF THE KINDEST PEOPLE I KNOW AAHH. Just watching your vids brightens my day! Thanks so much for the helpful vids!
Thank you so much! So glad you liked it!
Thank you so much for this informative video. I want to ask if Amazon won't block the reviews by ARC team as they have not bought the book but got for free from the Author?
After watching this video it was very informative. I never use Goodreads, perhaps I am a bad reader, but I prefer everything together, like one-stop-shop and review. Used to frequent book stores webpages a lot like Borders, when it was around. Thankfully I have gotten into Amazon/Kindle so easier to read than physical books, for me, and leave reviews.
Your videos are very helpful! Can you share a link to your ARC form?
Great video, Bethany. I have a question about timing, though. It sounds as though you only send out the ARCs a week or two before publication. Do you think that gives people enough time to read it? Might it not be better to send them out a few months early?
I know this was a while ago, but I thought I’d reply for other people that might have the same question.
You can definitely send ARCs out earlier. I like to send mine out about a month before the release date to give my readers a little extra time. The problem with sending them out earlier than that is that you can’t leave a review on a book (on Amazon) that hasn’t released yet, so if a reviewer reads your book that early, they may lose track of time or forget to leave a review entirely, which kind of defeats the purpose. They can leave reviews on other platforms (GoodReads, BookBub, etc.) before release, but reviewers are far less likely to leave reviews on other sites, and reviews on Amazon itself can help boost your rank and visibility, whereas reviews from other sites/platforms won’t.
Hope this helps!
But how can anyone leave a review on BookBub when the book hasn't been released. Only when a book is released does it show in the book bub catalogue righr?
Awesome video! Thank you for this step by step process. I've created my own form to use in the future. :)
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you for this video and I'm going to watch the other two about ARC also. Very helpful.
HI, Bethany,thank you for sharing your experience, love your smiles! I am launching my debut novel. quick questions of merchandising:where do you produce your mugs, t-shirts and accessories. which host would you recommend to set a store?
Hi Bethany, I am planning to use this method when I release my book, but I am confused about how readers are able to post a review without having purchased it. When you get reviews using ARCs, are they listed on Amazon as a verified purchase?
This part confuses me as well
It's still allowed, it's just not listed as a "verified purchase"
Hi Bethany, Congrats and thank you for your useful videos. Is it possible to make an ARC for children's picture books? or for a wordless picture book? Make a pdf format of them is ok?
Thank you so much for sharing your ideas. Can you please tell if KDP select users can opt for ARCs ?
Hey Bethany! Thank you for posting this, I’m learning a lot while I’m going through planning marketing for my book. Quick question: Why would you not accept every ARC reader in order to boost reviews?
Because if you give everyone a free book then who’s left to buy?
@@BethanyAtazadeh That’s a good point, I agree! Thank you for the feedback! I just figured that the more reviews would push platforms like Amazon to recommend the book to potential customers more. But now that you mention it, the one asking to be a ARC reader is a customer.
Around how early should I do an ARC for my book? Some people say a month or two before release, while others say several months. Loved this video!
Thank you! I think that's because it's personal preference. I like to do closer to release because it makes it more likely the reviewers will be hyped up and read/review right away (versus set it aside for when the release is closer and maybe forget).
Great video! I have a question that hopefully you can answer. Is there a way to give arc copies to people through Amazon so that it’ll show up that they received the product for free? Non verified reviews will most likely get taken down quick, so is there anyway to getting arc copies verified somehow?
Hi Bethany,
Do you have videos where you discuss how to get reviews after you've launched?
Is it just reaching out to bloggers?
I don't, but I think it would be a really short video, because my advice is to just ask! Whether in a newsletter or on social media, if you have readers following you, just put out occasional friendly reminders to review.
Love your video!!! It's very helpful...👍👍👍 You are awesome!!!!
Yay thank you! So glad it was helpful!
@@BethanyAtazadeh You are just awesome!!!!!!!
Dear Bethany, could you please advise when you upload books to the goodreads do you put full version of book? And I don't understand the purpose of goodreads you put there ebooks for free? Thanks!
Dear Bethany, thank you for your video! Very helpful. I have a question though... you send ARC's to people via Kindle Library, I get it. But, when they leave a review after all, on Amazon, do those reviews show up as 'Verified Purchase'. If not, is it really valuable to have those?
Did you get an answer to this question? I've been trying to ask as many people as possible and nobody has an answer! SOmeone must know. LOL
Yes it's just as valuable as any other review. It just won't say "verified purchase" but it's still a valid opinion that other readers will take into account.
Hi Bethany! You are simply awesome Thanks so much for sharing your valuable videos which are really helping me as I start my new career as a children's book author. When able, could you please send me the link or your sample ARC sign-up of how to create the ARC for paperback books and mail actual copies to participants? Thank you so much. Sandra
Hi Bethany,
I have already published three ebooks on amazon without previously getting ARC.
What should I do to get reviews since they are already published?
Question! How do you get around Amazons terms of service? It says you cannot offer product for reviews !! Help 😅
Thanks Beth you're awesome!
Thank you! You're so welcome!
Thanks for sharing..that you got book review
Awesome content!
Would it be okay to use the wording you have on your form for ARC Readers?
Go for it!
Mellyora Ashley introduced her first 4 books without ARC's and reviews seem hard to get. To post a review on amazon, customers must spend at least $50.00 using a valid credit or debit card. Prime subscriptions and promotional discounts don't qualify towards the $50.00 minimum. Need to try using advanced ARC form for the next book.
Preparing for my first time publishing. My research has gotten me a bit wary of ARCs. According to what I have read elsewhere, any solicitation of reviews (even non-paid and honest ones) can get you blocked. How can I avoid this? What are the actual rules?
Look up amazons review guidelines and you’ll find all the rules.
Can you send a copy of the form that I can edit for my book?
Thank uuuu❤❤❤
I didn't understand a damn. Does she fill that form in Goodreads?
Hi Ms. Penny ❤️🐶
How do send review copies without them posting it on the internet or sharing it.
Sadly I did arcs for my second children’s picture book and I totally forgot who I gave them to. No one did the reviews anyway. Plus Amazon took down all the reviews for my first book that were not from certified sales.
Oh no! I should've mentioned tracking everyone so you can contact them after - the nice thing about using the google form is that all that info can be transferred to an excel spreadsheet so it's super easy to track that way if you want to try it in the future!
@@BethanyAtazadeh well I didn’t do mine that way, I just asked some people at church and no one has said a word to me and I am too embarrassed to go around asking people if I gave them a arc copy. I did that once before and the looks I got like “ no but why didn’t you ask me” type looks. I had to beg and plead the first set to even do the reviews and one person kept giving excuses, then the reviews got taken off Amazon anyway so I do t see the point. May I can ask discord and create a Google form for myself. I can ask on IG too.
👏🏽🧠Appreciate it,See you in AuthorLand #CreativityMatters
You are the best
Thank you!
Yep, reviewers forget even when they have a physical copy 😭
Super helpful, it is possible to get a copy of the form?
What email service after you using? Do u only have a landing page on Google for sign up? No web page? And then you mainly sell from Amazon?